Coal Seam Permeability Research Articles

Permeability Enhancement Induced by Fracture Shear Dilation During Close-Range Coal Seam Mining

The advance of the working face in coal seams alters the local stress field and may give rise to fractures in the vicinity of the excavation. In this study, a constitutive model in which damage is defined as a function of volumetric strain was established and utilized in a numerical model to prognosticate the fracture development around the excavation. The predicted fractures that emerged in the overlying rock mass were found to exhibit hybrid characteristics. A permeability model was also constructed, taking into account both tension- and shear-induced fracture development. The permeability increase of the upper adjacent coal seam is most notable within 40 m from the goaf boundary. As the working face progresses, the permeability of the upper adjacent coal seam is further enhanced while that of the lower adjacent coal seam remains unaffected. The permeability at the goaf boundary is high and reaches its maximum at the rear of the working face, indicating that for the permeability change, the effect of shear-induced dilation plays a more crucial role than that of pressure-dependent compaction. This study can be used to guide the design of coal seam methane drainage for the mining of closely spaced coal seams.

Study on the Control Effect of Borehole Gas Extraction in Coal Seams Based on the Stress–Seepage Coupling Field

In order to determine the reasonable parameters of high-gas and extra-thick coal seam drainage, considering the factors of the coal seam metamorphic degree, stress condition, gas occurrence state, and permeability dynamic change, the gas desorption, diffusion, and transport process of coal seam gas are analyzed. A secondary distribution model of coal around the borehole, a porosity variation model of coal around the borehole, a stress–seepage coupling model, a pore flow model of the pressure-driven transition flow zone, and a free molecular flow zone are established. Taking the gas drainage of Zhangcun Coal Mine of Lu’an Group as the research object, the influence of drilling hole diameter, coal seam permeability, gas original pressure, and other factors on the control range of coal seam drainage drilling is simulated by ANSYS Fluent 6.3.26. The results show that secondary stress distribution occurs in the coal seam drill hole under the action of lead stress, which leads to the change in porosity; the seepage zone, transition zone, molecular flow zone, and original rock stress zone are presented around the drill hole; and the range of influence of the drill hole is mainly based on the seepage zone and the transition zone, supplemented by the molecular flow zone. The control range of the drill hole is in a positive proportional relationship to the diameter of the drill hole, the porosity of the coal seam, and the original pressure of the gas.

Numerical Simulation of CBM Seepage Characteristics Based on Fracture Network Images

The natural fracture network within the coal body serves as the main pathway for gas migration, with its geometric characteristics significantly impacting coalbed methane flow. In order to enhance the numerical model for simulating coalbed methane flow based on fracture network images, we define porosity and permeability functions for these images and improve upon existing methods. By employing a pixel probability decomposition algorithm, we establish a geometric model of a rough discrete fracture network, which is imported into COMSOL Multiphysics to build a numerical model of gas flow. We analyze the impact of different fracture structures on coal seam permeability and find that gas primarily flows through interconnected fractures at much higher velocities compared to matrix pores. Furthermore, we observe that fracture network permeability increases with increasing porosity (0.0635–0.164), fractal dimension (1.571–1.755), maximum fracture branch length (0.0111–0.0249 m), and connectivity (0.808–2.789). Conversely, it decreases with an increasing fracture dip angle (1.61–88.39°) and tortuosity fractal dimension (1.0018–1.0195). Our simulation method based on fracture network imaging provides a simple yet feasible approach to simulate gas extraction while accurately capturing various stages in the extraction process, including the temporal and spatial evolution of gas velocity and pressure as well as differences between fractures and the coal matrix.

Study on anti-reflection of deep soft and high gas coal seam floor by deep hole controlled blasting

Addressing the practical challenges of difficult drilling for blasting-induced permeability enhancement in deep, soft, and high-gas coal seams, where fractures remain underdeveloped and prone to re-compaction, this study proposes blasting operations within the floor strata. This approach aims to enhance the permeability of soft coal seams, thereby extending the duration of effective gas extraction. A bidirectional loading gas–solid coupling blasting simulation system was established in the laboratory, enabling multi-faceted analysis of experimental models through macroscopic crack patterns, internal damage mechanisms, and strain data of coal and rock masses. Comparative experiments were conducted, contrasting various control hole spacings with conventional blasting techniques. The findings reveal that as the blasting stress wave traverses the control hole walls, tensile stress waves are reflected, facilitating crack propagation. The guiding effect of the control holes and the spatial compensation they provide significantly increase the extension distance of explosion-induced cracks, resulting in directional failure of the test specimens and heightened damage in the far field of the blast. After the blasting process, the arrangement of control holes can result in an increase of up to 133% in damage to the coal seam and a reduction of up to 167% in damage to the floorboard compared to the model without control holes. Notably, when the control holes are proximal to the coal-rock interface, the near-end coal body experiences the most pronounced effects, with peak damage and tensile strain in the d = 20 mm model being 1.93 and 1.79 times higher, respectively, than those in models without control holes. Conversely, for control holes located further from the interface, the distal coal body experiences the greatest influence, exhibiting 1.53 and 1.55 times higher peak damage and tensile strain, respectively, in the d = 80 mm model compared to uncontrolled counterparts. Field observations at the C13 coal seam of a mine within the Huainan mining area corroborate these findings, where the volume of gas extraction and its concentration experienced a rapid increase following blasting and penetration enhancement. Optimum permeability enhancement occurs when the blasting hole is situated 4 m from the extraction point, resulting in a 131% increase in gas extraction purity from 0.15 × 10–3 m3/min to 1.97 × 10–3 m3/min. Furthermore, gas concentration soars by 373%, from 5.86% to 21.86%. These research outcomes offer valuable insights and hold considerable reference significance for blasting-induced permeability enhancement in deep, soft, and high gas coal seams.

Static expansion fracturing mechanism for enhancing gas permeability in low permeability coal seams

Extraction of gas from low-permeability thick coal seams poses challenges globally, attributed to low extraction efficiency, limited enrichment content, and extraction complexities. Investigating static fracturing in low-permeability thick coal seams holds substantial engineering significance and practical utility. This research delves into the current conditions in the Western region, characterized by low gas permeability and challenging extraction in thick coal seams. Through the utilization of FLAC3D and COMSOL, simulation schemes are devised to analyze the influence of borehole parameters on fracture efficacy, elucidating the mechanisms by which external loads and internal gas pressure impact coal seam permeability. Field monitoring tests are employed to evaluate and model gas extraction enhancement via borehole positioning. The results suggest that the application of a static fracturing agent inducing 40 MPa expansion stress, along with a 75 mm borehole diameter and 0.5 m spacing, effectively fractures low-permeability thick coal seams. The spacing between extraction and fracturing holes adversely affects gas extraction efficiency due to the limited range of static fracturing. Field experiments demonstrate that static fracturing significantly improves gas extraction from low-permeability thick coal seams, resulting in a twofold increase in average gas extraction purity post-fracturing. This study establishes a robust theoretical foundation for optimizing gas extraction and mining activities in challenging low-permeability thick coal seam environments.

A permeability model considering the dynamic effect of stress on gas adsorption under discontinuous compression.

With the continuous advance of coal mining, the normal stress in front of coal seams will continue to increase, resulting in changes of internal structure and permeability of coal seams. During the continuous advance of mining face, the increase of vertical stress somewhere in front of coal seams may not be a transient process, but a gradual change process. Therefore, this paper carried out the seepage test of gas-containing coal under discontinuous loading axial stress. The stress, deformation and permeability of coal specimens were measured and recorded during the test, and the influence of discontinuous loading axial stress on the deformation, internal structure and seepage properties of coal specimens were discussed. On this basis, considering the influence of stress on the gas adsorption state, Klinkenberg effect and other factors, combined with Shi-Durucan permeability model, a new permeability model considering the dynamic adsorption state of coal specimens was developed.

Modelling of enhanced gas extraction in low permeability coal seam by controllable shock wave fracturing

The controlled shock wave (CSW) fracturing is an effective method for enhancing permeability of coal seam to promote gas extraction. Based on Fick’s law, Darcy’s law, the ideal gas law and the Langmuir equation, a damage-seepage-deformation coupling mathematical model of CSW fracturing in coal seam combined with the maximum tensile stress and the Mohr-Coulomb criterion is established. This model is implemented into COMSOL Multiphysics to simulate the coal seam CSW fracturing and subsequent gas extraction. When the shock wave and isotropic in-situ stress are applied on the borehole wall, the coal damage zone is an annular shape, and the permeability in the damage zone increases sharply. The CSW can effectively increase the efficiency of gas extraction and reduce the gas pressure and gas content in coal seam. With the increase of CSW action times, the damage in coal mass reaches a threshold and tends to be stable after several shocks. The damage area and the gas extraction efficiency are positively correlated with the shock intensity. Under the anisotropic ground stress, the larger diversity of the stress in different directions is, the more obvious damage extension in the fractured coal along the maximum stress direction is. Ground stress can inhibit the extension of cracks in the CSW fractured coal seam. This inhibition effect becomes more obvious with the increase of in-situ stress. Parameters are substantiated of controlled shock wave impact on the coal seam, which ensures increased methane extraction from low-permeability reservoirs, are substantiated.

Technology and application of through layer borehole ultra-high pressure hydraulic slotting in soft coal seam to pressure relief and permeability enhancement

ABSTRACT It is a vital method that controls outburst disasters through gas drainage to reduce gas pressure. But the permeability of coal seam in China is low. Therefore, technologies that can decrease pressure and increase permeability such as ultra-high pressure hydraulic slotting (UPHS) are widely applied. Based on the technology of UPHS, the principle of coal breaking and mechanism of pressure relief and permeability enhancement (PRPE) were first analyzed. The effects of PRPE between contrast borehole and UPHS were compared through numerical simulation. Finally, combined with the field test, the parameters of UPHS were determined, and difference in gas drainage effect between contrast borehole and UPHS was investigated. It is found that the exposed area of coal increased due to macroscopic slotting formed by hydraulic slotting, which provide space for coal deformation. The stress of coal relieved the permeability enhanced, resulting in the gas drainage efficiency increasing. The simulated results showed the pressure relief area and plastic deformation caused by UPHS are significantly increased compared with contrast borehole. The average concentration and total of gas drainage in UPHS are 1.49 and 3.13 times than that of contrast borehole. And radius of gas drainage of UPHS 1.77 times than that of contrast borehole under reduce the 46% engineering quantities.

Threshold Determination for Effective Water Injection in Coal Seams: Insights from Numerical Simulation

Coal seam water injection is the most basic and effective dust control technology used on the coal mining face. Numerical simulations are helpful for predicting the humidity range of coal seam water injection. The results can provide guidance for the field design of coal seam water injection process parameters. In order to understand the influence of coal seam water injection pressure and water injection time on the coal seam wetting effect, this paper uses the Fluent 17.0 software system to study the process parameters of the coal seam water injection seepage process under different conditions. It is found that in the process of coal seam water injection, with the increase in water injection pressure and the prolongation of water injection time, there is a specific threshold value for the change in coal seam permeability. Only when the water injection pressure and time increase to the threshold value will the permeability of the coal seam be significantly enhanced and the wetting effect improved. The pressure threshold of the mine is 15 MPa–20 MPa, and the time threshold is the first 42 h.

Theoretical study on nonlinear seepage mechanism in fractal dendritic fracture network of low permeability coal with water injection

Coal seam water injection technology is adopted by many mines as an effective means of dust reduction in coal mines. There is a threshold pressure gradient phenomenon in the process of water injection in low permeability coal seam, which makes the flow of pressure water in the fracture structure of coal body present nonlinear seepage characteristics. To reveal the theoretical relationship between the structural parameters of coal and the nonlinear seepage characteristics, firstly, the Bingham fluid constitutive equation is used to describe the non-Newtonian behavior in low-permeability coal. Combined with the fractal tree-like bifurcation fracture network model, a mathematical analytical model of threshold pressure gradient is established. Secondly, the model was verified by high-pressure water invasion and radial seepage experiments, and the sensitivity of the model was analyzed. The results show that the error between the theoretical calculation value and the experimental measurement value is between 8.65 % and 42.4 %, which verifies the validity of the model. The above research results can provide a theoretical basis for improving the water injection effect of low permeability coal seam.

Evolution mechanism of coal chemical structure after supercritical CO2 transient fracturing

This study investigates the chemical structural evolution of coal during supercritical CO2 transient fracturing using a self-developed experimental platform. Coal samples with different metamorphic ranks were subjected to transient fracturing under different pressures. Characterization techniques, including X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, analyzed the fractured coal samples. Initially, supercritical CO2 dissolved minerals and non-aromatic structures, rearranging organic compounds. As fracturing intensified, alkanes and substituents rapidly released, causing large aromatic rings to break into smaller ones. The breakage of small aromatic rings created pores and increased aromatic structure dimensions. Moreover, the interaction between fractured small aromatic rings and oxygen atoms in the C=O group facilitated the formation of new C–C bonds, promoting the connection of aromatic rings to form larger structures. In the early stages of fracturing, the molecular structure of coal relaxed, and subsequently, as the fracturing intensified, the hydrogen bonds initially broken could reconnect to aromatic structures to form OH-π interactions, enhancing intermolecular attraction. This promoted molecules to be more inclined to form stable, dense structures. Understanding this evolution mechanism aids in analyzing the transformation of fractured coal pores, thereby enhancing our understanding of the mechanism for improving coal seam permeability using this technology.

Modeling Study of Enhanced Coal Seam Gas Extraction via N2 Injection Under Thermal-Hydraulic-Mechanical Interactions.

N2 injection into coal seams can effectively enhance the gas flow capacity in the late stage of pumping, thereby improving the recovery rate and recovery efficiency of low coalbed methane (CBM). To reveal the thermodynamic flow coupling relationship between the reservoir and the gas phase and its transportation mechanism in the process of thermal N2 injection, a mathematical coupling model of N2 injection that considers the deformation of the coal seam, fluid transportation, and temperature change was established. The influence of the seepage heat transfer effect of the coal seam under the effect of N2 injection on the CH4 extraction rate was investigated using this model. Results indicate that the action mechanism of N2 injection in coal seams includes increasing seepage, promoting flow, and displacing gases. A higher initial coal seam temperature results in a smaller thermal expansion and deformation of the coal skeleton during thermal N2 injection and less pronounced coal permeability increase. A larger initial coal seam permeability results in more favorable N2 diffusion, which strengthens the flow-promoting effect on CH4. The effect of gas injection pressure on CH4 recovery is greater than that of the gas injection temperature: High pressure promotes N2 seepage, carries CH4 flow, and increases the CH4 diffusion effect, whereas higher temperature promotes the desorption of adsorbed gas in the coal seam and improves the recovery rate.

Mechanism of pore water phase change, freezing expansion, and pore enlargement of coal samples under low-temperature liquid nitrogen action

Liquid nitrogen fracturing, a technology for enhancing coal seam permeability without water, garnering considerable attention due to the intricate network of fractures induced by the low-temperature impact of LN2 on coal reservoirs. The phase transition freezing expansion of water-ice plays a pivotal role in determining the efficacy of coal damage. As direct measurement of water signal change during freezing is impractical, studying the variation in unfrozen water content during coal sample re-warming subsequent to cold shock is beneficial. This approach aids in elucidating the phase transition expansion and pore expansion mechanisms at different pore scales. The findings reveal the sequence of pore ice melting in coal samples frozen by LN2: micropores exhibit initial water appearance, followed by medium-sized pores, with micropores reaching peak levels first. Subsequently, water migrates from micropores to medium-sized pores, leading to their peak levels, before macropores show water presence. The temperature gradient from the coal sample center to the coal wall, owing to thermal resistance, results in the part melting first also freezing first. Analysis indicates that the porosity signal of lignite and bituminous coal increased by 203 % and 467 % during medium-sized pore melting, emphasizing the prominence of the medium-sized pore melting stage. It is further inferred that the phase transition freezing expansion and pore expansion of coal sample water induced by LN2 primarily occur in medium-sized pores.

Research on simulating coal crack development under high voltage electric pulse stress waves using zero thickness cohesive elements

High voltage electric pulse (HVEP) technology has demonstrated significant potential in enhancing coal seam permeability. However, there is a notable gap in numerical simulation studies that investigate the cracks development patterns in coal under the influence of this technology. In this study, a HVEP coal rock fracturing system was utilized to conduct a physical simulation experiment of coal sample electrical fragmentation. A finite-discrete element method (FDEM) model, incorporating zero-thickness cohesive elements, was developed to simulate the process of stress wave-induced crack propagation in coal, triggered by the plasma channel. The results indicate that over time, the stress wave typically exhibits an initial rapid rise followed by an oscillatory decline. The peak value of the stress wave decreases significantly with distance, stabilizing beyond a propagation distance of 10 mm. Furthermore, the fracturing efficacy of coal by HVEP stress waves is closely linked to specific characteristic parameters: within the range of 75–125 MPa, a positive correlation exists between the stress wave peak and the complexity of the coal crack network. Reducing the stress wave loading rate can increase the crack area to some extent, although excessively slow loading rates may lead to excessive energy dissipation during propagation, which is detrimental to crack expansion. Conversely, when the ratio of β to α ranges from 1 to 100, decelerating the attenuation rate of the stress wave aids in generating stress concentration within the crack zone, thereby facilitating crack propagation. The established numerical model aims to advance understanding of HVEP’s fracturing mechanisms and enhance its application in coalbed methane extraction.

Micromechanism of the effect of coal functional groups on the catalytic/esterification reaction of acetic acid

Acidification modification has proven to be a successful approach for enhancing the permeability of low-permeability coal seams and increasing coalbed methane extraction. To explore the influence of acetic acid on the organic structure of coal, a combined approach of experimental research and quantum chemical calculation is employed to examine the reaction mechanism of coal organic structure in response to acetic acid. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy reveals a reduction in the content of hydroxyl and C–O bonds in the treated samples, along with the appearance of an absorption peak of C=C bonds. This demonstrates that the main site of acetic acid acidification modification on coal molecules is the hydroxyl functional group. Therefore, glycerol can be used as a simplified model of coal molecules for further investigation. In addition, three typical functional groups (phenyl, hydroxyl, amino) are selected as the research objects. The electronic density topological properties, molecular surface electrostatic potential, Mayer bond orders and CM5 charge of coal molecules were calculated based on quantum chemical theory. This reveals the intrinsic strength of each chemical bond between single atoms in a molecule, thereby predicting potential reaction pathways between acetic acid and coal molecules. The micro-mechanism of acetic acid catalyzing/esterifying the organic structure of coal is studied using transition state methods. The computational results show that there are two main modes of reaction between acetic acid and coal molecules: (1) acetic acid catalyzes the dehydration reaction of coal molecules; (2) acetic acid reacts with coal molecules to form ester intermediates, followed by decomposition through various reactions. Among the 14 reaction pathways, acetic acid provides protons or groups to trigger the dehydration of coal molecules. Interestingly, it is found that the overall hydroxyl group participates in the reaction is easier than the individual hydrogen atom on the hydroxyl group, and the overall carboxyl group participates in the reaction is easier than the individual hydroxyl group. This indicates that the higher the overall atomic reactivity of acetic acid, the lower the reaction barrier. Compared with catalytic reactions, acetic acid tends to undergo esterification reactions with hydroxyl groups, with the phenyl ring functional group significantly affecting the reaction barrier. The introduction of various oxygen-containing functional groups like ketone, aldehyde, and ester in the reaction products will hinder the adsorption of non-polar methane, reduce the adsorption capacity of coal seams for gas, and play an essential role in promoting gas desorption. The research findings can provide theoretical guidance for the organic acidification modification of low-permeability coal seams to enhance gas permeability and coalbed methane extraction.

Coal deformation characteristics during methane displacement by pulsed nitrogen injection: New method of using pulsed energy to improve coal permeability

The displacement of methane by injecting nitrogen is an effective method for improving extraction efficiency in low-permeability coal seams. By conducting the experiments on uniform/pulsed pressure nitrogen injection for methane displacement (UPNI-MD/PPNI-MD), the coal deformation characteristics are quantitatively characterized, and the coal deformation mechanism is discussed. The results show that the technology of methane displacement by PPNI-MD is more effective in enhancing the permeability of low-permeability coal seams. The pressure of nitrogen injection and the amount of methane/nitrogen adsorption are crucial factors affecting the coal deformation during the process of UPNI-MD/PPNI-MD. The erosive effect of methane adsorption on the mechanical properties of coal decreases, while the erosive effect of nitrogen adsorption on the mechanical properties of coal shows a “wave-like” variation in the case of PPNI-MD. The application of PPNI-MD technology can effectively decrease the coal expansion deformation while undergoing the methane displacement process. Nitrogen injection to displace methane breaks the system energy balance of coal, resulting in deformation. And the coal deformation during nitrogen injection for methane displacement depends on the energy carried by the injected nitrogen, the energy change during gas competitive adsorption and the heat exchange between nitrogen and coal. The effective stress of coal depends on the change in methane/nitrogen pressure. The mechanical properties of coal depend on the amount of methane/nitrogen adsorption and the pore pressure. High-energy nitrogen damage to coal during the process of PPNI-MD is manifested in coal deformation caused by methane/nitrogen pressure, coal deformation caused by methane/nitrogen adsorption, and damage to coal mechanical properties caused by methane/nitrogen adsorption.

A Study on the Effect of Different Charge Structures on the Permeability Enhancement of Coal Seam Blasting

With the increasing depth of coal mining, the ground stress of coal seams rises, the gas content rises, and the permeability decreases, which is unfavorable to gas extraction and increases the possibility of gas accidents in coal mines. Blasting technology is often used to improve the permeability of coal seams and increase the effect of gas extraction, but it is difficult to control the blasting effect of ordinary flux coils, and the direction of the fissure and the degree of development of randomness, so it is important to study the effect of different flux coil structures on the blasting of coal seams to increase the permeability of the coal seam, in this paper, first of all, through the numerical simulation to analyze the effect of the blasting of the ordinary structure flux coils and the fissure change in the polygonal structure flux coils, and then make the experimental module. Then, we make the test module, build the test platform, and analyze the effect of blasting penetration of different drug coil structures by comparing the strain after blasting and the change in resistivity before and after blasting of two kinds of drug coil structures, and the results show that the polymerized drug coil can play the role of directional fracturing, and compared with the ordinary structure of the drug coil, the polymerized drug shows a better effect of fracturing and penetration increase.

Effect of Wettability and Permeability on Pore-Scale of CH4–Water Two-Phase Displacement Behavior in the Phase Field Model

Hydraulic measures such as hydraulic slotting and hydraulic fracturing are commonly used in coal seam pressure relief and permeability enhancement. Two-phase flow patterns of CH4–water in pore-sized coal seams after hydraulic measures are critical to improve gas extraction efficiency. The phase field module in COMSOL Multiphysics™ 5.4 and the classical ordered porous media model were used in this paper. The characteristics of CH4–water two-phase immiscible displacement in coal seams under different capillary numbers (Ca) and viscosity ratios (M) were simulated and quantitatively analyzed. By changing the contact angle of the porous media, the flow patterns of CH4–water two-phase in coal with different wettability were simulated. Results show that wettability significantly affects the displacement efficiency of CH4. Additionally, by constructing a dual-permeability model to simulate the varying local permeability of the coal, the flow patterns of different Ca and M in dual-permeability media were further investigated. It is found that CH4 preferentially invades high-permeability regions, and the displacement efficiency in low-permeability regions increases with higher Ca and M, providing a reference for gas extraction from coal seams after hydraulic measures.

Experimental Study on the Relationship Among Complex Resistivity, Water Saturation, and Salinity in the Jiaozuo Anthracite Reservoir.

In order to investigate the electrical response characteristics of anthracite coal reservoirs and their correlation with water saturation, salinity, and porosity, the complex resistivity of Zhaogu No. 2 mine anthracite coal was measured across a frequency range of 1 Hz to 100 kHz. The experimental findings indicate that as water saturation, salinity, and porosity increase, the amplitude of both the real and imaginary components of the complex resistance of the coal sample gradually decreases, leading to a decrease in the dispersion degree and an increase in the interface polarization frequency. By analyzing the experimental data and studying the polarization mechanism of coal in a sodium chloride solution, this study proposed an enhanced model that integrates the aspects of the Cole-Cole model and the Warburg model to overcome the limitations of the traditional first-order model, which can fit only single-peak curves. The second-order series Cole-Cole model not only delves into microscopic mechanisms underlying the low-frequency polarization effect of coal samples but also provides a highly accurate fit for complex resistivity dispersion curves under varying conditions. This research offers both an experimental foundation and a theoretical framework for leveraging the electrical properties of anthracite coal reservoirs in assessing the pore structure and permeability of coal seams.

Mechanisms underlying variations in pore structures and permeability in response to thermal treatment and their implications for underground coal utilization

Coal remains a predominant energy source in today's society. However, the coal mining process is associated with severe environmental hazards, and combustion for power generation leads to pollution and carbon dioxide emissions. As a result, many countries have imposed restrictions on underground coal mining. Underground coal gasification, direct combustion for heat recovery and thermal treatment provides serval promising way for cleanly and safely utilizing coal resources. However, the successful operation of these technologies needs to comprehensively understand the physical and chemical properties of coal responding to high temperature. In particular, the pore structures and permeability of coal which are closely related to the transport of gas and liquid in coal seams. Therefore, serval advanced instruments were employed to investigate the variation of the functional groups, pore structures, permeability from room temperature to 500 °C. Their connection was discussed in detail to reveal the mechanism of thermal treatment on the pore structures and permeability of coal. The variations of all physical properties with temperature demonstrated a trend of gradual change followed by a sudden change. This indicated that coal samples possess relatively good stability up to 300 °C. Experimental results revealed significant alterations in the pore structure and permeability of the coal at 400 °C and 500 °C. Correspondingly, the mass of coal samples and the CC functional groups, which constitute the main molecular structure of coal, underwent significant changes at these temperatures. This suggested that the pyrolysis of coal beyond 400 °C led to an increase in both pore volume and permeability. Moreover, observations through scanning electron microscopy indicated that the increase in pore volume at 400 °C and 500 °C also resulted from the thermal stress induced cracks between minerals and organic matters. These mechanisms significantly enhance the pore volume and permeability of coal seams, facilitating the transport of coalbed gases and liquids during the production process of underground coal utilization.